REALISTIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE Read more
Category: Head Injury
DVLA – Driving & Medical Conditions
For many conditions the patient should be informed to stop driving and inform the DVLA of their condition. It is the patients responsibility to inform the DVLA, and we should encourage them to do so.
[There is a £1000 fine AND the risk of prosecution] Read more
Head Injury
Background
- Defined as any traumatic injury to the head other than superficial facial injuries.
- The commonest cause of death and disability in people age 1-40 in the UK.
- Account for 1.4 million ED attendances each year, 95% of these are minor head injuries that can be managed in the ED.
CDU – Head Injury
For patients requiring head injury observations and doesn’t require inpatient admission.
Some patients with skull fracture or small bleeds may need admission to CDU for observation and blood test (but only if directed by Neurosurgical team)
Specific admission criteria
- Significant Head injury (that has either had or requires a CT head)
- Otherwise medically discharged
- GCS over 13
- Ensure NO Spinal injury
- CT Head
- Normal
- Abnormal, but has a documented neurosurgical plan
- Awaiting an 8hr CT head
